| Les's Testimony |
As a child, my mother led me in the "sinner's prayer" at a young age. I went to Sunday school and
church with my mom-my dad wouldn't go. As a kid growing up I fought with my friends, was
picked on and was very bad at sports and many times did not feel acceptance. I had gone to
Christian school for 2 1/2 years. Kids in the Christian school were just as relentless as the public
schools. I went from 1974 then went back to public school in February 1977. The following Sunday
after I had left the Christian school my mother and I went to Sunday school and church. I overheard
one of the mother's telling her kid to "stay away from him". I felt shunned by Christians and shortly
after that I told my parents that I was not going to Church anymore. As far as I was concerned all
Christians were nothing but hypocrites. I felt no acceptance from anyone. I was bad in sports, I
wasn't one of the smart kids and even the Christians "hated" me. In 1979 I had one good friend
named Bob. He treated me good. He stood up for me. I then started to drift away from my
childhood friends. Then in the fall of 1979 at the age of 15 my new best friend Bob and one of my
childhood friends introduced my to a new friend-Marijuana. I started smoking pot, started drinking
(Note: My dad once in a while would give me a beer, so I really mean drinking to get drunk.)
By 1980 I was taking speed, LSD and then shooting meth a few years later. Finally I had friends!
Finally I had acceptance Finally life was great and no one was going to hurt me again! If anything
hurt me six to twelve beers,pot, acid would make it better. Shucks, a day was wasted if I didn't get
high on anything! Even if it were a couple good resin hits from a chamber bowl!
Then I found out some of my wonderful new friends were using me and stealing from me. I got into
trouble with the law, was put on probation, after that I decided to hang out with more responsible
people. Hey I felt responsible-at least I held a job and went to work sober (most of the time).
God has protected me from many things I realize now-anything from stabbing my self in the arm
and throwing a coffee table at my friends after drinking over a fifth of vodka chased with diet pills!
While I was living this kind of life what I learned about Christ rang in the back of my mind. Drinking
fifths of Mad Dog 20/20,malt liquor and doing drugs just did not seem to fill that void. There was
that loneliness, depression, anger, thoughts of suicide, worthlessness, etc. Around the time of the
first Gulf War I started to feel drawn to Bible Prophesy. I understood some of it from my childhood
teachings. I started to think "What if" What if this Bible stuff was right and I was wrong? Then I
thought if only I met a woman and could get married certainly that would make it better. I married a
woman almost 30 years my senor! In 1994 she got terminal cancer-life was not good at that point.
At that time I was working for Wal-Mart. It was there I met a man named Mike Colvin. Mike was
so pleasant. Always asked how I was. Always seemed to treat people with respect-something was
different about Mike. Then one day at work his dad came out to the garden center at Wal-Mart
where I worked. I then found out Mike's dad was a pastor. Wow! A Christian that actually acted
like a Christian! I started asking questions about prophesy. Mike suggested I read Matthew 24. I did
and wow it almost seemed like I was watching the news (I was a CNN junkie then) I then asked
about going to church. I went on a Wednesday night with my wife. We asked Mike if him and his
dad could come for a visit. It was time to get saved. I had to forgive how I was treated years earlier. I
drew the conclusion that while some Christians were hypocrites not all of them were and I had to
settle my own eternity. In September 1994 my first wife Shirley and I asked Jesus Christ to come
into our hearts and save us. We both got baptized at Valley Baptist Church in Middletown,PA a
couple weeks later. (It was her first as a concert from Catholicism and my second time. I wanted to
make sure I was right with Christ this time. I had given my heart to Jesus as a kid several times but
it meant nothing. This time I wanted to live for him and I did not care what anyone thought!
In January of 1995 Shirley went home to be with the Lord. After that I backslid. I started smoking
cigarettes and pot again and started drinking again. However the people at my church did not give up
on me. My pastor would come and visit me. Lisa one of the ladies at church at the time even left a
homemade loaf of bread in my door! These acts of love kept me from leaving God again.
I missed my wife but I knew I had to move one. I asked God to help me. In 1996 I had gone through
the $50,000 in life insurance money that I received when Shirley died. I lost most everything I
owned and had to move back home. I was 31, widowed, used by a woman and at the end of my rope
again! In April of 1996 I recommitted my life to Christ again! Started teaching Sunday school,
stayed closer to God and accept the fact that I may have to spend life alone. In 1996 I smoked my
last cigarette and joint. Then in December of 1996 I met Julie. The love of my wife. The woman I
married for the right reasons and not just sex. About 3 weeks later one January 1 1997 I proposed to
her and on January 1 1998 we were married. The home I live in is better then the one I lost. The job
I have now is the best that I have had. (Some were more fun but did not pay as well!). And God has
used me in many ways. I have been on the radio for 3 years preaching. I had been on foreign
missions trips and many other exciting things have happened. I am now an ordained minister. Life
had turned around 180 degrees for me. This is the abundant life through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Accepting Christ is more than fire insurance from Hell. We can live a good life even with it's
problems. In 2001 when my mom died and a month in a 1/2 later my father had a stroke. Christ
helped me through. I had the privilege to lead him to Jesus in the ER. Living for Christ is the best
way in fact the only way. Only trust Him. Only believe!
church with my mom-my dad wouldn't go. As a kid growing up I fought with my friends, was
picked on and was very bad at sports and many times did not feel acceptance. I had gone to
Christian school for 2 1/2 years. Kids in the Christian school were just as relentless as the public
schools. I went from 1974 then went back to public school in February 1977. The following Sunday
after I had left the Christian school my mother and I went to Sunday school and church. I overheard
one of the mother's telling her kid to "stay away from him". I felt shunned by Christians and shortly
after that I told my parents that I was not going to Church anymore. As far as I was concerned all
Christians were nothing but hypocrites. I felt no acceptance from anyone. I was bad in sports, I
wasn't one of the smart kids and even the Christians "hated" me. In 1979 I had one good friend
named Bob. He treated me good. He stood up for me. I then started to drift away from my
childhood friends. Then in the fall of 1979 at the age of 15 my new best friend Bob and one of my
childhood friends introduced my to a new friend-Marijuana. I started smoking pot, started drinking
(Note: My dad once in a while would give me a beer, so I really mean drinking to get drunk.)
By 1980 I was taking speed, LSD and then shooting meth a few years later. Finally I had friends!
Finally I had acceptance Finally life was great and no one was going to hurt me again! If anything
hurt me six to twelve beers,pot, acid would make it better. Shucks, a day was wasted if I didn't get
high on anything! Even if it were a couple good resin hits from a chamber bowl!
Then I found out some of my wonderful new friends were using me and stealing from me. I got into
trouble with the law, was put on probation, after that I decided to hang out with more responsible
people. Hey I felt responsible-at least I held a job and went to work sober (most of the time).
God has protected me from many things I realize now-anything from stabbing my self in the arm
and throwing a coffee table at my friends after drinking over a fifth of vodka chased with diet pills!
While I was living this kind of life what I learned about Christ rang in the back of my mind. Drinking
fifths of Mad Dog 20/20,malt liquor and doing drugs just did not seem to fill that void. There was
that loneliness, depression, anger, thoughts of suicide, worthlessness, etc. Around the time of the
first Gulf War I started to feel drawn to Bible Prophesy. I understood some of it from my childhood
teachings. I started to think "What if" What if this Bible stuff was right and I was wrong? Then I
thought if only I met a woman and could get married certainly that would make it better. I married a
woman almost 30 years my senor! In 1994 she got terminal cancer-life was not good at that point.
At that time I was working for Wal-Mart. It was there I met a man named Mike Colvin. Mike was
so pleasant. Always asked how I was. Always seemed to treat people with respect-something was
different about Mike. Then one day at work his dad came out to the garden center at Wal-Mart
where I worked. I then found out Mike's dad was a pastor. Wow! A Christian that actually acted
like a Christian! I started asking questions about prophesy. Mike suggested I read Matthew 24. I did
and wow it almost seemed like I was watching the news (I was a CNN junkie then) I then asked
about going to church. I went on a Wednesday night with my wife. We asked Mike if him and his
dad could come for a visit. It was time to get saved. I had to forgive how I was treated years earlier. I
drew the conclusion that while some Christians were hypocrites not all of them were and I had to
settle my own eternity. In September 1994 my first wife Shirley and I asked Jesus Christ to come
into our hearts and save us. We both got baptized at Valley Baptist Church in Middletown,PA a
couple weeks later. (It was her first as a concert from Catholicism and my second time. I wanted to
make sure I was right with Christ this time. I had given my heart to Jesus as a kid several times but
it meant nothing. This time I wanted to live for him and I did not care what anyone thought!
In January of 1995 Shirley went home to be with the Lord. After that I backslid. I started smoking
cigarettes and pot again and started drinking again. However the people at my church did not give up
on me. My pastor would come and visit me. Lisa one of the ladies at church at the time even left a
homemade loaf of bread in my door! These acts of love kept me from leaving God again.
I missed my wife but I knew I had to move one. I asked God to help me. In 1996 I had gone through
the $50,000 in life insurance money that I received when Shirley died. I lost most everything I
owned and had to move back home. I was 31, widowed, used by a woman and at the end of my rope
again! In April of 1996 I recommitted my life to Christ again! Started teaching Sunday school,
stayed closer to God and accept the fact that I may have to spend life alone. In 1996 I smoked my
last cigarette and joint. Then in December of 1996 I met Julie. The love of my wife. The woman I
married for the right reasons and not just sex. About 3 weeks later one January 1 1997 I proposed to
her and on January 1 1998 we were married. The home I live in is better then the one I lost. The job
I have now is the best that I have had. (Some were more fun but did not pay as well!). And God has
used me in many ways. I have been on the radio for 3 years preaching. I had been on foreign
missions trips and many other exciting things have happened. I am now an ordained minister. Life
had turned around 180 degrees for me. This is the abundant life through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Accepting Christ is more than fire insurance from Hell. We can live a good life even with it's
problems. In 2001 when my mom died and a month in a 1/2 later my father had a stroke. Christ
helped me through. I had the privilege to lead him to Jesus in the ER. Living for Christ is the best
way in fact the only way. Only trust Him. Only believe!
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